Here's the 411 on Studio 914

The groups operating out of Studio 914 are promoting their upcoming seasons of drama, comedy and music.

Gordon Tootoosis Nikaniwin Theatre has themed its season “tapwewin” “acimowin” — telling truth, telling stories. Kenneth T. Williams’ new play In Care leads off, the story of a woman who turned her life around having her kids taken away.

“It’s going to be tough, it’s going to be heavy. It’s something people should come see — it’s important,” said Daniel Knight of GTNT.

The surprise of the season is the return of a Rez Christmas play, Kohkoms in Toyland. The initial plan was to discontinue them but there was just too much demand. After a Saskatchewan tour, it runs at the Broadway Theatre.

“We had one lady call it, she was trying to book 50 tickets already,” said Knight. (Tickets actually aren’t on sale yet.)

GTNT will also produce Iskotew by Jennifer Dawn Bishop and Dominion by Andrea Ledding.

La Troupe du Jour begins its year with a full wallet; the federal government has given it $122,750 for promotions and mobile ticketing.

The macabre comedy Ma Irma (Oh My Irma) starts things off, the story of a woman with a blood-splattered suitcase on the run. Straight Jacket Winter by Esther Duquette and Gilles Poulin-Denis arrives from Vancouver. It’s about a couple relocating there from Montreal.

“I’m really excited for Ma Irma,” says La Troupe’s Emilie Lebel. “I saw an excerpt very recently and I’m very excited to see it all together. Straightjacket Winter is about the things a lot of people go through when we move to a new city and it’s hard to make new friends. I’m excited to see that, too, and a friend of mine is directing, Gilles Poulin Denis, and he’s in the play as well. It’s going to be great.”

The theatre will do two family plays, a wordless one based on The Ugly Duckling and, in association with Persephone Theatre, Baobab. La Troupe’s community play this year is Bousilles et les justes, about a family, with a son on trial for murder, intimidating a witness.

Saskatoon Summer Players is doing You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown in November, its annual musical revue Broadway in Love and Spamalot as its major production in June.

There’s a substantial appetite for musical theatre in Saskatoon, said Anita Smith.

“Grease! Sold out before we even opened, Shrek had extremely strong ticket sales, Rent sold out, Cabaret had really strong ticket sales. I think people in this town want to see musical theatre.”

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